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SFA propose youth quotas along with financial incentives
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- SFA propose youth quotas along with financial incentives
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The Scottish FA is proposing financial incentives - and penalties - along with quotas, in a bid to get more homegrown talent playing for clubs.
The governing body has put forward three suggestions to increase game time for young Scottish players, which will be voted on at a SFA general meeting in October and the SPFL's agm in November.
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Two under-21 Scotland-eligible players start in all Scottish Cup matches, with one player on the pitch at all times.
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Two under-21 Scotland-eligible players start in all Premier Sports Cup matches, with one player on the pitch at all times.
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Under-21 Scotland-eligible players in all four SPFL divisions to play an average of 60 minutes per game, across the season, (6% of available minutes).
If approved, the regulations would commence from the 2027-2028 season.
All 42 SPFL clubs gathered in St Andrews on Friday to discuss ways of improving pathways for young talent and finding the next generation of international players.
The SFA say an extra £1m would be made available to clubs.
Under the league recommendation, clubs failing to reach the 60 minutes per game target would be deducted 10% of their final-placing prize money, with those funds redistributed among those who achieve it.
The proposals come as figures show a dramatic dip in Scottish-born players being fielded by top-flight clubs and suggestions of a fear by managers and owners to take a chance on academy players.
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Statistics also reflect a huge increase in young players being tempted south to club academies in England, prompting concerns they could be lost in a vast youth system rather than breaking into first teams north of the border.
Club owners watched a presentation by football analytics company Twenty First Group, who outlined data showing the financial incentives of fielding and developing academy players.
Twenty First Group say that, compared to similar sized nations, Scottish clubs are collectively missing out on £40m annually by not playing younger players and selling them on.
Club Brugge recruitment director Guilian Preud'homme also delivered a presentation about the success enjoyed by the Belgian champions after they shifted their focus from overseas recruitment to homegrown talent.
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Scotland has slipped to 18th in Uefa's coefficient, with under-21 Scottish eligible players amassing 18,706 minutes in the top flight last year, compared to 80,345 minutes in 2013.
That was the year rules requiring Scottish top flight clubs to have three outfield players under 21 in their matchday squad of 18 were abolished.
"Scotland's return to the World Cup created a huge sense of excitement around the national team, but it has also underlined the need to plan for the next generation," said SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell.
"Clubs across Europe are showing that giving younger players minutes does not have to come at the expense of success on the pitch, and we believe that these proposals could both strengthen Scottish clubs and have a positive effect on the national team in the future."
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SFA chief football officer Craig Mulholland pointed to the gains made since last year's introduction of a co-operation system and the revamp of the KDM Evolution Trophy but said the "lack of opportunities in the top flight is concerning".
Mulholland added: "We're at a point where we need to take a holistic approach to improvement.
"The time for reviews is over: it's time for action to make sure that our young Scottish people get the best opportunity to go and become top professionals.
"We would always love to do more but we believe that introducing requirements for under-21 players in the Scottish Cup and League Cup and targets for minutes in the Premiership would represent a significant step."
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